Wight Magic flies first class

Jan 1, 2003

Peter Harrison, founder and chairman of the GBR Challenge, announced last week that the syndicate team's second boat, GBR 78, will be renamed Wight Magic. The new name links the team to the Isle of Wight and pays homage to the place the yacht race was held 151 years ago.

Wight Magic was towed by barge past the Royal Yacht Squadron and Cowes, and reviewed by its 28 sponsors from the club's lawn. After being towed from Cowes to Southampton, the yacht will be trucked to the airport and loaded into the belly of a Russian Antenov cargo plane, the largest air freighter in the world. The yacht will arrive in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday, Aug. 10, buying the GBR Challenge team at least five weeks of additional practice time.